Matt Kilgallon has told BBC Radio Leeds that he is a really big fan of Max Wober after Leeds United’s win over Southampton, suggesting that his performances may be getting the best out of Junior Firpo.
Leeds secured a massive win in their bid to stay in the Premier League this season. They moved themselves out of the bottom three, with Firpo scoring the only goal against Ruben Selles’ men at Elland Road.
The Whites’ defence have been much better since the turn of the year. Mistakes have still been made, but there has been nothing like the hammerings which Leeds took on a consistent basis last season.
Kilgallon lauds Wober after Leeds win
And for many, the arrival of Wober has been a real turning point on that front. The Austrian came in in the January transfer window. And it quickly became apparent that he had the potential to be a superb signing.
Leeds went a little while before they conceded their first goal with Wober on the pitch. And the only team to score more than once against Leeds in their last seven games is Manchester United.
Certainly, it could be argued that neither Robin Koch or Firpo have been better for Leeds than they have in recent games. And with Wober sitting between the pair, it is hard to not think that his arrival has been a turning point for the backline.
Kilgallon definitely thinks that Wober’s arrival has been really important.
“I like Wober, I really do. Some of his tackles, his timing is very good, isn’t it. His covering is good. It might be why Firpo’s playing well as well,” he told BBC Radio Leeds.
“As a back four today, they were solid. They played at the right time, but they also defended at the right time. Didn’t have loads to do. I think Wober made an unbelievable diving header.”
It is hard to not get a little carried away. Southampton were so poor. And they are obviously bottom of the table. But we have not had many wins to celebrate this season.
And of course, it was the first game under Javi Gracia. So there will be plenty of excitement for what he could potentially do when he has longer with his team.
Perhaps we will feel foolish with how pleased we are with a victory over Southampton. But there are definitely some encouraging signs.
Ultimately, no player probably tested Illan Meslier more than Crysencio Summerville when his late clearance went a little wrong.
That says a lot about how poor Southampton were. But Leeds’ defence still deserves credit for ensuring that they needed to be so much better to actually cause Meslier an issue.